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28 March 2025
We want to keep our customers updated on the annual overhaul programme and how we are deploying vessels and managing services across the network.
MV Hebrides overhaul
The need for additional repairs has been identified during MV Hebrides annual overhaul. The issue relates to her bow visor, stern ramp and car deck - and a repair plan has been quickly put in place.
This means that she will be delayed in dry dock and is now expected to return to service on 16 April 2025, rather than 6 April 2025.
Uig-Tarbert/Lochmaddy services
MV Clansman will continue to cover services until MV Hebrides returns.
Customer bookings
If you have a booking that’s affected, our team will be in touch with you.
If have yet to make a reservation on the route or would like to make an amendment - our booking system is being updated, and while this work is underway it may seem like some sailings and amendments for the period 7 April – 15 April are unavailable. This is temporary. Please do check back.
As always, to stay up to date with the latest information on the service status of each route, please continue to check our service status and information page for these routes, check the X (formerly Twitter) feed - @CalMac_Updates, and sign up for SMS text subscription services.
Thank you
We appreciate the patience shown by our customers and stakeholders during the annual overhaul programme and the unforeseen extensions that can often take place when additional repairs are identified. As always, our focus is on maintaining core services to all island communities.
Following the news that MV Caledonian Isles - one of our major vessels - requires further repairs, we have planned for the vessel being unavailable for the duration for the winter timetable period. And with this being the case, we have published a new vessel deployment plan for the period 16 November 2024 - 27 March 2025. Below, we've shared information for customers on how this will affect services between Uig-Tarbert / Lochmaddy.
Given the vessels available to us, we have to reduce direct services to Lochboisdale from Saturday 16 November up to and including Saturday 30 November. To mitigate against the reduced service to South Uist, the Uig-Tarbert/Lochmaddy service will be amended with additional Lochmaddy services and fewer Tarbert services, while traffic to Tarbert will be accommodated on the Ullapool-Stornoway service. Full details will be available on our timetable pages shortly for this route.
Work is now underway to update the booking system - and while this is ongoing amendments and new bookings for some sailings are unavailable. This is temporary, so please do check back later.
If you have a reservation in the system that is affected by any of these changes, we will be in contact with you in date order of sailings.
As always, to stay up to date with the latest information on the service status of each route, please continue to check our service status and information page for these routes, check the X (formerly Twitter) feed - @CalMac_Updates, and sign up for SMS text subscription services.
Again, we apologise for the inconvenience caused by having one of the large vessels on the fleet out of service for this period. It has been a challenging period for customers who have been affected.
The revised plans outlined above takes on board the feedback from customers and communities on how we manage this situation - and reflects our commitment to meeting demand and maintaining a lifeline service across the network. We will continue to look at ways to further support services across the network.